324. Blessed Redeemer 慈愛的救主

“Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer!

Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree;

Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading,

Blind and unheeding— dying for me!”

Hymn 324 Blessed Redeemer by Harry D. Loes. The first time in this Playing Hymns Made Really Easy tutorial series that we have hymn that is in a 9/8 time-signature. Not too difficult to learn, jsut getting use to counting in nine quavers each bar. This hymn reminds us of our Lord Jesus who had died on the cross to save us, redeem us with His precious blood so that we remember His great salvation grace and use our tongues on singing praises to Him forever.

Up Calv’ry’s mountain, one dreadful morn,
Walked Christ my Saviour, weary and worn;
Facing for sinners death on the cross,
That He might save them from endless loss.
Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer!
Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree;
Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading,
Blind and unheeding— dying for me!

“Father forgive them!” thus did He pray,
E’en while His lifeblood flowed fast away;
Praying for sinners while in such woe—
No one but Jesus ever loved so.
Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer!
Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree;
Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading,
Blind and unheeding— dying for me!

O how I love Him, Saviour and Friend,
How can my praises ever find end!
Thro’ years unnumbered on heaven’s shore,
My tongue shall praise Him forevermore.
Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer!
Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree;
Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading,
Blind and unheeding— dying for me!

All creatures on earth praise the Lord, for our Lord God is almighty. This hymn describes how everything He has created sing praises to the everlasting omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience God. Every time when we pray, we should give thanks, praises and honour to our Lord.

This is my Father’s world, And to my list’ning ears,
All nature sings and round me rings The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world, I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, The birds their carols raise;
The morning light, the lily white Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world, He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me ev’rywhere.

This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world, The battle is not done;
Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And earth and heaven be one.

Download Sheet Music 下載樂譜 version A

Download Sheet Music 下載樂譜 version B

Today, we will switch our attention to piano accompaniment for choir.

The BBC’s Songs of Praise which started in 1961, is still airing on every Sunday, features hymns, Christian music and stories around different locations in the country. I one episode many years ago, I saw a group of men gathered by a grand piano relaxingly singing hymn 112 “Follow On”, the accompaniment is like this

Personally, I feel that we can incorporate this style for choir presentation, certain hymns that are joyous and relax can adopt this idea. Now, let us take a look into how to implement this to a hymn.

In previous videos, we have mentioned that majority of the hymns will use primary chords of I, IV and V. In Ab major, these will be

For this style in Ab major, chord I, Ab C Eb, the right-hand plays a three notes chord, left-hand plays an octave Ab and alternates with the fifth note Eb. Slot the right-hand chord between each of the left-hand notes.

Now, let’s try playing chord I, then the pattern. Chord IV, the pattern. Chord V, the pattern. Now the three together, chords, I , IV, V one after the other.

Now, if we simplify the harmonies of this hymn, the first half of each line always starts with chord I, then IV, then back to I. The harmonies of the 2^nd phrase in line 1 and line 3 are the same, chord V, I, and and V. Whereas the harmonies of the 2^nd phrase in line 2 and line 4 are identical, chords IV, I, IV, I, V, and back to I.

Incorporating this patterns, the first line will be like this

Second line like this

If We go a step further; we can have an upgraded version with a little more advance harmonies for the accompaniment. For example:

1^st bar > 4^th beat is still chord I but with C in the bass instead, C is the middle note of the chord, in music theory, usually we are only allowed to use C once within a chord, therefore we need to omit the C on the right and replace it with an E. The chord will blend better.

3^rd bar > the last quaver Db is the 7^th of the fifth chord (dominant seventh) which in this case helps to link the next three notes C Bb Ab to create a descending scale, so we can use the Db on the 4th beat.

4^th bar > C in the bass, as the example in bar 1, change the right-hand chord, omitting the C. Then on the 2^nd beat, Bb as a passing note follows by Ab. You can check on the attached file later for the remaining lines.

After going through what we can do for this hymn, let us hear how this will sound. I have generated a MP3 file. Starts off with the basic version, choir singing the chorus in, straight in with the upgraded version, with brothers singing the verse, concluding with traditional 4 parts chorus. See whether you can hear the difference (scroll the video forward to 6:28 to see the play along).

277. I Love to Tell the Story 喜傳福音

I Love to Tell the Story, a well known hymn classic by William G. Fischer. The greatest story telling how our heavenly Father sent His beloved son Jesus in flesh to undo the ties of sin for mankind. With repentance, we can return and restore our relationship with God through water baptism and the renewal of the Holy Spirit. Finally it tells us that Jesus will come again to gather us to the prepared heavenly eternal home. We therefore must spread to the world about this wonderful story, of Jesus and His great love.

I love to tell the story Of unseen things above,
How came the Lord from heaven And showed the Father’s love?
I love to tell the story, Because I know it’s true;
It satisfies my longings As nothing else can do.
I love to tell the story; ’Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story; The ties of sin undo;
How can this living water And Spirit make anew?
I love to tell the story, Because His word is true;
Bear witness to the nations, With courage now pursue.
I love to tell the story; ’Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story; The Lord will come again;
How can I do His favour And live in His domain?
I love to tell the story, Because His gift is true;
Complete this blessed journey To see His glory too.
I love to tell the story; ’Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love.